'Cong has learnt to face coalition challenges'

New Delhi, Dec 28: The Congress has learnt to deal with and handle the challenges of coalition politics over the past two-and-a half years ever since the UPA Government was formed at the Centre, according to UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

"With India being a large and diverse country with different regional needs and concerns, a coalition Govenment can lead to a greater consensus on important issues and be more representative," she observed in a letter to Congress workers published in the latest issue of Congress mouthpiece Sandesh.

Ms Gandhi said the Congress-led UPA coalition Government had completed the first half of its five year tenure last month. Over the past two-and-a half years the party had substantially fulfilled many of its promises made in its election manfesto that were subsequently incorporated into the National Common Minimum Porgramme of the UPA.

The Congress President claimed that the party had strengthened the secular foundations of governance. "We have significantly increased Government spending in critical areas like elementary education, nutrition, public health, rural infrastructure and basic urban services, the most important of which is the National Rural Employment Guaantee Act." Ms Gandhi called upon the party workers to consolidate the achievements of the Congress-led UPA Govenment made during the last two-and-a half years."Our party organisation has to propagate these initiatives of the Government by mobilising people and getting actively involved in implementation." Referring to the meeting of Congress Chief Ministers held two months back, the Congress President said they had discussed agriculture and internal security. Her Government had already taken a number of steps to expand supply of credit at affordable rates to farmers. More remained to be done and would get done. A big boost was being given to irrigation and horticulture as well.

UNI

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